Aerial torpedo



1, FRECSKA. AERIAL TORPEDO. APPLICATION. FILED NOV. 20,1918.

Patented May 4, 1920.

avwewboz usFmcs Km Juli I J. FRECSKA.

AERIAL TORPEDO.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 20, F918.

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AERIAL TORPEDO. v APPUCATION FILED NOV-2U, 1918. Y

Patented May 4, 1920.

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fillieiil lilts JULIUS FRECSKA, OF AMSTERDAM, OHIO, ASSIG-IIGR C 1? ONE-HALF TO FEECSKA, {3F AMSTERDAM, OHIG.

ZIGMQND AERIAL TORPEDU.

a sesses,

Specification of Enroll whom it may concern: I

*tde t known that I, J oLrUs FRECSKA, a

. citizen of the United States. residing at ninaj terdain, in the county of Jefferson and State of Ohio, have invented new and use-' ful. Improvements in Aerial lorpedoes, of which the following is a specihcation. 7

This invention relates to aerial torpedoes for use in warfare, the broad object in View being to produce a torpedo which will sustain itself in continuous flight after being ,ta-in propellin charges such as slow burning powder, said sections being separably connected so that any. desired number of trailing sections may be employed in accordance with the length of flight of the torpedo. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the shell sections which contain the propelling charges are connected by fuses thereby enabling the charge carrying "tions of the shell to operate successively.

ith the above and other objects in view,

the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement herein fully described illustrated and claimed. Inthe accompanying drawings Figure l'is a plan view showing the aerial supporting surface folded.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the aerial supporting surface spread.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the complete torpedo.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sec- ;tion taken through the leading section and showing the supporting surface folded.

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the supporting surface spread.

Fig. 6 is a transverse torpedo taken adjacent to the junction be" tween the leading section and the next trailing section Letters latent.

- charge of the well known section through .Elatented ltl'ayel, 1920. Serial No. 263,375

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of one of the wing structures.

In carrying out the present invention, in the preferred embodiment thereof 1 cm. ploy a shell comprising a leading section 1 and a plurality of trailing sections 2, all of said sections being separably connected so that any desired number of sections may be employed according to the length of flight of the torpedo. The leading section 1 and the next folhiwing trailing section 2 may be permanently connected together by a joint 8 of any suitable type. The remaining trailing sections it are connected together by a separable slip joint l, enabling said sectio1 1s to be easilyassembled and separated. The slip oints lare preferably of the rabbeted type shown.

Each of the trailing sections 2 contain a propelling charge 5 of slow burning powder for example, having the same propelling effect on. the shell of the torpedo as the skyrocket. If desired, a high explosive charge may be placed in the rearinost section 2, to adapt the whole device to be placed in similar to an ordinary v cartridge as placed in the breech of a fire-arm, such explosive charge being utilized to project the re mainder of the torpedo intospace. The trailing-sections are provided at their rear ends with heads 6 and a combined tube and vent tube 7 is inserted through each of said heads thus molding communication between the several sections 2. T he foremost trailing section 2 in the l ireferred embodiment of the invention will be somewhat longer than the remaining trailing that a highly explosive charge 8 may also be contained therein for the purpose of exploding the torpedo after it rcacl'ies the enemy. Qne of the trailing sections 2 and preferably the foremost trailing section is agun in a mannersections in order provided with an aerial. supporting surface and such supporting surface is preferably in the form of oppositely extending Wing surfaces 9, each being shown as composed of wing bars 10 and ribs 11, said bars and ribs being inclosedgby upper and lower surfaces 12 of fabric or any other suitable material such as that employed in the construction of the wings on airplanes. In

order to providefor folding and spreading the, wing surfacesherein aboveflreferred to,-

the said trailing section of the shell of the torpedo is provided on each side ti iereof with longitudinally extending flanges l3 arranged in spaced relation to each other and forming a channel for the reception of a plurality of wing supporting arms 14: which are connected by pivots 15 to the adjacent inner edges of the supporting wing. Said arms are connected by pivots l6to the saidv trailing section of the torpedo as shown in. the drawings, said supporting arms be ing adapted to pull into the channelsbetween the'fianges 13,v The construction of each wing structure is such that the same is adapted to be folded within the channels referred to, thereby enabling the complete structure to be placedin the barrel of a gun or fire arm preparatory to projecting the same into space. The leading section of the torpedo may be allowed to project beyond the barrel of the gun or fire arm and also a portion of the foremost trailing section of the torpedo.

The means for spreading the aerial supporting surface or i 11. other words, the wings,

comprises a fluid pressure operated device or member 1? mounted at the forward end of the torpedo body and passed upon a pro- ,peller shaft 18 which is threaded and con.-

'inafter specified.

be formed with. I through which the rods 21 pass, said rods stitutes a feed screw for the au' nose herei 1 1e shaft or feed. screw 18 extends longitudinally into the leading section 1 of the shell, being supported in suitable bearings thereln and having a threaded connection with a traveler 19 movable longitudinally within said leading shell section. The traveler 1 9 is substantially U- vshaped, comprising oppositely and rear wardly extending arms 20 coupled by suit able connecting means such as rods 21 with pivoted wing supportinng arms hereinal'iove described.

For the purpose of connectingthe rods 2']. with the arms 14, the latter may longitudinal slots 22 being provided with heads or shoulders 26 working against therear side of the arms 14. The operation of this portion of the mechanism may be described as follows: When the torpedo is fired from av gun or other fire arm, rotary motion is imparted to the wheel or propeller-l7 by air pressure against the same.

ward movement of the traveler 19, as the latter is connected by the means described with the wing supporting arms 14, said arms are swung outwardly from their folded position and the aerial supporting surfaces or wings are thus automatically spread-while the torpedo is in actual flight.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying draw This in turn rotates the feed screw 18 and the latter causes a forbodv.

Lea ues ings it will now be understood that the aerial torpedo is adapted to be fired from any suitable gun or lire arm while the supporting surfaces or wings are folded. The length of flight is governed by the number of trailing sections employed'as they will be ignited one aft-er another'thius prolong ing the flight to any desired extent. When the shell emerges from the barrel of the firerality of sections arranged in tandem for-f mation, propelling charge in one section, an nitially fixed aerial supporting surface, and, wing spreading means carried by one section and operated by the flight of the torpedo. it

:2. An aerial torpedo comprisipg a plu-, rality of sections arranged in ta matron, a propelling charge in one 890M011,

dem foran initially folded aerial supportin surface, and wing spreadingrmeans carried by one section and operated by the flight of the torpedo, said means embodying a fluid pressure actuatedmember connected fWlth said supporting surface. I

An aerial torpedo comprising a plurality of sections arranged in tandem formation, a propelling charge in one section, an initially folded aerial supporting sur-. face, and wing spreading means carried by one section and operated by the flight of the pressure operated device to actuate said member, and a feed screw driven by the last named member and connected with said supporting surface;

at. In an aerial torpedo, a body, initially folded aerial supporting members pivotally connected with said. body atopposite'sides thereof and including arms,.;a screw rotaroof . torpedo, said means embodying a rotary air tably mounted at the forward end of said body, a U-shaped yoke having its bight portion threadedly receiving said screw and having its arms engaging the arms of said aerial supporting members, and a'propeller secured upon the forward extremity of the screw whereby theflight of the torpedo will cause rotation of the propeller to movesaid yoke. for moving said aerial supporting members to extend laterally beyond the Ihtestimony whereof I aifix my'signatura JULIUS VFBECSAKA. 

